In theory, money that had to be loaned to a monarch, on the monarch's instruction. However, forced loans were often seen as an extra-parliamentary form of taxation.
Forced loans
Fact of the Day
A cuckolded man in classical Athens could get his revenge by shoving a large radish or a spiked scorpion fish up his wife's lover's anus.
Quote of the Day
"Before you embark on a journey of revenge, dig two graves.
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~ Confucius
On This Day
1914 The Panama Canal opened to commercial traffic.
1941 Josef Jakobs, a Luxembourg-born German spy, became the last person to be executed at the Tower of London, by firing squad.
1945 The Japanese announced their intention to surrender unconditionally in the Second World War. It came into effect on 2 September 1945.
1947 India gained independence from the British Empire.
1969 The first Woodstock Music and Art Fair opened in upstate New York.